Bangladesh: Awami League MP Mahfuzur Rahman Mita sent to 6-day remand in anti-terror case
Synopsis
Ex-Awami League lawmaker Mahfuzur Rahman Mita has been sent to six-day remand in Dhaka under the Anti-Terrorism Act — the latest in a sustained crackdown on Awami League figures that has seen at least 53 arrested last month alone. With the BNP now in power, Bangladesh's political fault lines are hardening fast.
Key Takeaways
Former Awami League MP Mahfuzur Rahman Mita was sent to six-day remand by a Dhaka court on 23 September 2026 .
The case was registered at Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act , stemming from a June 18 procession near Mohakhali Bus Terminal .
Mita's driver Selim was also arrested and produced before the court; investigators had sought 10 days' remand for each.
Last month, 53 Awami League leaders and activists were arrested from Bashundhara , Dhaka, ahead of an August 15 mourning day event.
The Awami League has condemned the crackdown, calling it an assault on democratic rights and freedom of assembly.
A Bangladeshi court on 23 September 2026 placed former Awami League lawmaker Mahfuzur Rahman Mita on six-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station in Dhaka, according to local media reports. The order was passed by Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam, even as the investigation officer had sought a longer 10-day custody period.
The Arrest and Court Order
Mita was arrested on Tuesday from a residence in the Gulshan-2 area of Dhaka, according to Detective Branch (DB) of Gulshan Division Deputy Commissioner AFM Anwar Hossain Khan. His driver, Selim, was taken into custody simultaneously from the same location.
Inspector Md Masudur Rahman, the investigation officer of the Tejgaon Zonal Team, produced both accused before the court and sought 10 days' remand for each. Prosecution Sub-Inspector Arif Reza confirmed that the magistrate ultimately granted six days.
What the FIR Alleges
The case stems from a June 18 procession near Mohakhali Bus Terminal in Dhaka, where, according to the First Information Report (FIR), approximately 35–40 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its student wing, Chhatra League, had gathered. The FIR alleged that participants raised anti-government slogans and exploded cocktails, causing panic among members of the public. Police subsequently registered the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Part of a Broader Crackdown
The arrest of Mita is the latest in an escalating pattern of action against Awami League figures that reportedly began during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and has continued under the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration. Last month, as many as 53 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations were arrested from a building in the Bashundhara residential area of Dhaka, according to a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) press release.
Police from Bhatara Police Station carried out the drive after intelligence indicated that the individuals had gathered to organise a preparatory meeting and a flash march in connection with the August 15 mourning day, according to reports from Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo.
Awami League's Response
Following the wave of arrests, the Awami League strongly condemned the crackdown, stating that it demonstrated there was 'little room left in the country for democratic rights or the freedom to observe religious or national occasions.' The party has continued to describe the actions as politically motivated.
What Happens Next
With Mita and his driver Selim now in remand, investigators are expected to question both over the alleged June 18 procession. The case is being watched closely as a barometer of how far the BNP-led administration intends to push legal action against its longtime political rival. How courts respond to future remand applications is likely to shape the trajectory of the broader crackdown.
Point of View
In most democracies, would fall within protected political expression. Bangladesh's opposition and civil society have warned that these laws are being stretched far beyond their original scope. If the courts continue to grant remands without rigorous examination of the terrorism threshold, the legal architecture meant to fight extremism risks becoming a tool of partisan consolidation.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mahfuzur Rahman Mita and why was he arrested?
Mahfuzur Rahman Mita is a former lawmaker of Bangladesh's Awami League party. He was arrested from Gulshan-2, Dhaka, in connection with an Anti-Terrorism Act case linked to a June 18 procession near Mohakhali Bus Terminal, where participants allegedly raised anti-government slogans and exploded cocktails.
How long is Mahfuzur Rahman Mita's remand?
A Dhaka court granted six-day remand for Mita on 23 September 2026. The investigation officer had sought 10 days' custody, but Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam awarded a shorter period.
What is the broader crackdown on Awami League in Bangladesh?
A sustained crackdown on Awami League leaders and activists reportedly began under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and has continued under the current BNP administration. Last month alone, 53 Awami League members were arrested from a residential building in Bashundhara, Dhaka.
What has the Awami League said about the arrests?
The Awami League strongly condemned the crackdown, stating it showed there was little room for democratic rights or freedom to observe religious and national occasions in Bangladesh. The party has characterised the action as politically motivated.
What law was used to charge Mita?
The case against Mita was filed under Bangladesh's Anti-Terrorism Act at Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station in Dhaka, based on allegations arising from the June 18 procession near Mohakhali Bus Terminal.
